By Darkness I Burn [EN]

Chapter 4

Nevio – 20 years old

Christmas morning went surprisingly well, especially considering the fact that I managed not to shoot anyone – and Alessio and Massimo were included in that count. With the coming night, I could only think of one thing... The Christmas race.

My blood was boiling with the desire to get on my bike and take out all the anger that playing a happy family gave me. I've never missed a Christmas race since I started racing, and as furious as I was, today definitely wasn't going to be the day that changed.

Was Greta's happiness everything to me? Yes, but I definitely didn't like that her happiness was tied to the Famiglia. I could never get over it.

I went downstairs to dinner and braced myself for another round of the picture-perfect family. When I arrived, most of them were already seated around the table, I took the chair next to Massimo and sat down too.

"Are you running today?" He asked, without making bothering to lower his voice, drawing the rest of table attention.

"When did I let a Christmas rush pass?" I asked with a smirk.

"What race?" Maddox seemed to perk up.

"None that you need to know, since you won't be participating." Marcella countered immediately and I laughed. She had some balls and Maddox didn't really seem to mind.

"You're evil." He said with a smile, putting his arm around the back of her chair.

"But then, what race?" Valerio asked this time.

"Every Christmas there's a race in the Red Rock Canyon." Nino replied to the bastard, who made an approval sound.

Isabella looked around the table, following the conversation until her eyes landed on me. She had been acting weird during lunch, which I still had to figure out why, but now she seemed back to her normal self – and without a book, which I considered a miracle. I flashed her a predatory smile.

"I heard you run, redhead. How about trying to win the podium today?" I showed my teeth.

Before she could answer, however, Matteo, at her side, inquired:

"You heard how?"

"I do my homework." I replied and looked back at her. "So?"

"Surprisingly they didn't let me bring my bike on the jet." Her expression made it look like she was bored with everything and I had to stifle a laugh at her sassy response.

"That's the least of your problems, Vitiello girl." Alessio said, smiling. "We have bikes for you. I didn't know you ran."

"Yes, another of my fine skills, Falcone boy." Isabella replied with one of her eyebrows arched.

Alessio smiled again, and for a brief moment they exchanged a knowledgeable look, almost an inside joke, which didn't make the slightest sense, because, other than helping me kidnap her, Alessio had never spoken to or about the girl.

"Let's not make Isabella uncomfortable, please." Kiara tried to appease, but Isabella dismissed her with her hand.

"No problem, Kiara. I bet I can make it to the podium tonight."

"I do not think it's a good idea." Matteo spoke protectively.

"You can track the race." Massimo answered him. He definitely wanted to see what Isabella was capable of. "My father follows everything with drones, your precious daughter will be safe. That is, if she really knows how to ride a motorcycle." He gave a mocking smile to Isabella, who just rolled her eyes.